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Laser Hair Removal FAQ
This patient information is intended to supplement, not replace, consultation with your physician regarding laser hair removal. Please talk to us if you have additional questions or if you have questions that may not be answered here.
Hair removal works best when there is color in the hair. People with light hair may see only moderate improvement and may need a greater number of treatment sessions. Dark hair responds incredibly well, however, white hair does not respond at all.
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What does it feel like?
The laser treatment may feel like a mild sting for a fraction of a second. It has a built-in cooling tip that not only helps to protect the skin but also helps to minimize the discomfort.
How long do the treatments take?
An upper lip and chin can be done in 5 to 10 minutes. Underarms or bikini lines usually take 15 to 20 minutes. Legs and backs take longer. Very often, follow-up treatments are shorter because there is much less hair to treat.
How many treatments are necessary?
This is very important to understand. Hair goes through multiple stages of development. It will only respond to the treatment in one stage called the anagen stage. At any given time, only one third of human hair is in the anagen stage. For this reason, it is necessary to treat an area at least 3 – 6 times with the treatments spaced approximately 6 weeks apart in order to see the best and longest lasting results. Darker hair will respond better but both dark and light hair may need 6 or more treatments for maximum response and the best long-term results.
Results – It’s not working?
There is often no immediate change. The hair that has been destroyed will not start to fall out for 2-3 weeks. Many times it will get darker and thicker just before it falls out. Don’t worry if you do not see an obvious change immediately after your first treatment. Your skin may get slightly red or even develop a small crust that will peel. The laser may leave small red marks on your skin. The marks will clear up in a few days.
Is it permanent?
Treatment results vary as no two patients are the same. For some this may significantly decrease the frequency of shaving or plucking. For others it may mean permanent cosmetic improvement because hair re-growth is minimal, very fine or completely absent. Everyone may experience some re-growth with time regardless of the technology used. Hair that grows back will tend to be much finer and less concentrated but can be addressed with an annual maintenance visit.
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PREPARATION GUIDELINES FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL
- It is necessary for you to have one to two day’s hair growth so that the areas that require treatment are easily recognizable. If not, it may be difficult to pinpoint all areas needing treatment. Your nurse will need to shave the hair to skin level with a razor as necessary.
- For hair removal on the face, please do not use (or make sure you wash off all) makeup prior to treatment.
- If you are currently on the medication Accutane or Gold Therapy or have been in the past 6 months, please let us know. This medication can make your skin more susceptible to damage from the laser.
- Generally, it is best to wait 6 to 8 weeks between treatments. There is no advantage to scheduling your visits closer together even if you do not see immediate results. The laser only targets hair in the growth phase. The next growth phase will be in 6 to 8 weeks.
- Try to avoid sun exposure for at least 3 weeks prior to treatment. The CoolGlide will work on most skin types, but the lighter you can allow your skin to get, the better and safer your treatment is likely to be. (Lighter skin allows us to maximize the energy we can deliver to the target.)
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WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL
1. Avoid bathing or washing with very hot water. Use tepid water. You may feel like you have a mild to moderate sunburn. Minor crusting or minor peeling of the surface layers of the skin is not unusual. Over the counter Hydrocortisone Cream and Aloe Vera Gel may help with any redness or inflammation of your skin.
2. Keep the area clean. Wash gently.
3. Avoid direct sun exposure for 2-3 weeks after your treatment. If you do go in the sun, protect the treated area with a sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher.
4. Do not shave the treated area for at least 4 days after treatment. Do not wax, pluck or use depilatories for the hair that grows back. After laser treatment, hair may continue to grow out as if it were never even treated. Typically this will occur for about 2 weeks and then these hairs will simply begin to fall out.
5. Avoid any irritating medications or chemicals, particularly on the face. Examples of these are Retin-A, Benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid or astringents.
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